Is Nutrafol FSA or HSA Eligible?
Nutrafol is reimbursable from FSA, HSA and HRA accounts when a clinician diagnoses hair loss and writes a letter of medical necessity. Discover eligibility rules and how reimbursement works.
4 minute read
Short answer
Nutrafol is reimbursable with a letter of medical necessity when a clinician diagnoses hair loss and confirms that Nutrafol treats it. Under IRS Publication 502, nutritional supplements can be included in medical expenses "if they are recommended by a medical practitioner as treatment for a specific medical condition".
Without a diagnosis, Nutrafol is not reimbursable. The letter must be dated on or before your purchase, so request it before you buy. Once you have the letter, you can use any card at any retailer, and Burst files the claim with your administrator.
Nutrafol eligibility and the medical necessity rule
Nutrafol is reimbursable with a letter when a clinician diagnoses a hair-loss condition and confirms that it treats that condition. Under IRS Publication 502, nutritional supplements are reimbursable only when "recommended by a medical practitioner as treatment for a specific medical condition".
What the letter must say for Nutrafol
Your clinician needs to diagnose a specific hair-loss condition. Common diagnoses include androgenetic alopecia (male or female pattern baldness), telogen effluvium (stress-induced shedding), or other medically recognized hair-loss disorders. The clinician writes one sentence explaining how Nutrafol treats your diagnosed condition. That's all the letter requires.
Nutrafol purchased for general wellness, appearance improvement, or cosmetic goals is not reimbursable. The letter must tie it to a diagnosed medical condition, not just a desire for thicker or fuller hair.
How to buy Nutrafol and get reimbursed
Request your letter before you buy Nutrafol. The letter must be dated on or before your purchase date so the claim covers the purchase. You can work with a dermatologist, primary care doctor, nurse practitioner, or other licensed clinician who can diagnose your hair-loss condition.
Once you have the dated letter, buy Nutrafol with any card at any store. Burst files the reimbursement claim with your FSA, HSA or HRA administrator, and the administrator pays you out of your account by deposit or check. You never submit the letter yourself or manage the claim.
When Nutrafol is reimbursable, and when it's not
Scenario | Reimbursable? |
|---|---|
Nutrafol for diagnosed androgenetic alopecia or telogen effluvium (with a clinician's letter) | With a letter |
Nutrafol for general hair thinning with no medical diagnosis | Not reimbursable |
Nutrafol for cosmetic appearance goals | Not reimbursable |
Nutrafol for a diagnosed hair-loss condition, but no letter | Not reimbursable |
Other hair-growth supplements
The same letter requirement applies to all hair-growth and hair-health supplements. Biotin, saw palmetto, and other hair supplements follow the IRS rule on nutritional supplements: they're reimbursable with a letter when "recommended by a medical practitioner as treatment for a specific medical condition". If your clinician diagnoses hair loss and recommends any of these supplements as treatment, you can get reimbursed with a letter.
Getting Nutrafol reimbursed with Burst
If what you're buying needs a letter of medical necessity, Burst writes it and files the claim. $35 once, about two minutes to request, reviewed by a licensed clinician, typically in your inbox within 24 hours. Burst files the reimbursement claim with your FSA, HSA or HRA administrator, and the administrator pays you out of your account by deposit or check. No letter, no charge. Claim denied, money back. The letter has to be dated on or before the purchase it covers, so request it before you buy.
Get reimbursed for my Nutrafol
Frequently asked questions
Is Nutrafol HSA or FSA eligible?
Nutrafol is eligible with a letter of medical necessity from a clinician who diagnoses a hair-loss condition such as androgenetic alopecia or telogen effluvium. Without a medical diagnosis and letter, it's not eligible.
What diagnosis do I need for Nutrafol to be reimbursable?
Your clinician must diagnose a recognized hair-loss condition such as androgenetic alopecia (pattern baldness), telogen effluvium (stress-related shedding), or another medically recognized hair disorder. General thinning without a clinical diagnosis doesn't qualify.
Can I get a letter for Nutrafol if I don't have a diagnosed condition?
No. A clinician can only write a letter if they've diagnosed a medical condition. Nutrafol for cosmetic reasons or appearance improvement is not reimbursable.
Which hair-growth supplements can I get reimbursed for?
Any hair-growth or hair-health supplement can be reimbursable if a clinician diagnoses hair loss and recommends it as treatment. This includes biotin, saw palmetto, and other hair supplements. The letter requirement is the same.
Do I need a prescription for Nutrafol to get reimbursed?
No. The clinician writes a letter of medical necessity explaining the condition and how Nutrafol treats it. This isn't the same as a prescription. Over-the-counter supplements like Nutrafol don't need to be prescribed.
Can I buy Nutrafol and get reimbursed after the purchase?
No. Your letter must be dated on or before your purchase. Request the letter before you buy so the letter covers the purchase.
Keep reading: Are vitamins FSA or HSA eligible?, Is shampoo FSA or HSA eligible?, Are supplements HSA eligible?, and all guides on this topic.
Sources
IRS Publication 502 - Medical and Dental Expenses (Nutritional supplements are reimbursable when recommended by a medical practitioner as treatment for a specific medical condition)
IRS Publication 969 - Health Savings Accounts and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans (FSA, HSA and HRA accounts reimburse the same qualified medical expenses)
Healthcare.gov Glossary - FSA, HSA and HRA Information (Account types and qualified medical expense rules for FSA, HSA and HRA)
